NADAV Honors Prof. Yehezkel Dror, Director Joseph Cedar

A professor emeritus and a film director are this year's honorees for Jewish global unity at the 2011 NADAV awards.

By Chana Ya'ar

First Publish: 10/24/2011, 11:23 PM

A film director and Hebrew University professor emeritus have been honored for strengthening global Jewish identity.

Professor Yehezkel Dror and film director Joseph Cedar received the NADAV Jewish Peoplehood Award Sunday at a ceremony held in the Old City of Jaffa (Yafo), next to Tel Aviv.

Dror, an author and Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is also a past recipient of the Israel Prize for management, has served as a senior staff member at RAND Corp. in the U.S. and as a senior adviser to Israel's prime ministers and defense ministers.

Cedar, an Israeli film director and screenwriter, won the Silver Bear and the Ophir Award for Best Director, and for writing a Best Screenplay. He also won the Best Screenplay Award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival for his film Footnote.

Hundreds gathered to watch as businessman and philanthropist Leonid Nevzlin, founder of the NADAV Foundation, and Irina Nevzlin Kogan, president of the foundation, honored the two.

"Throughout his esteemed career, Professor Yehezkel Dror has made it his life's work to promote Jewish leadership in Israel and around the world," said Nevzlin during the ceremony. "We admire his vision."

Both were praised for their contribution in strengthening global Jewish identity and deepening the connection between Jews around the world.